CHAPTER XVII 



THE DEATH OF DARWIN (1882) 



(Age 48) 



In 1882 Sir John and his children returned from 

 Algiers on January 14. Towards the end of 

 the month he was suffering from gout, an enemy 

 that was by way of making fierce onslaughts 

 from time to time on more than one member of 

 the Lubbock brotherhood. It was only with 

 the greatest pain and difficulty — as his diary 

 narrates — that he was able to get to the Parish 

 Church, on February 3, in order to give away his 

 daughter Constance, who was married on that 

 day to Mr. Sydney Buxton. " She has been a 

 dear good daughter and a great help," Sir John 

 records ; " I hope and believe that she has every 

 prospect of happiness." 



It is a prospect that was fully, but only too 

 briefly realised. Her death occurred in 1892. 



He mentions that on March 24 he made " an 

 elaborate speech " in favour of Free Trade, and 

 against Mr. Ritchie's " Fair Trade " resolution. 



He also brought forward the question of 

 Forestry, and discussed the institution of a 

 School of Forestry, but, on the whole, was strongly 



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